Work holder for sewing machines



C. H. LUCY.

WORK HOLDER FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED 001'. I8. 1917.

Patented Oct. 1922;

w g- @(jila l atented' Unit. ltd, 1922.

caLvIn n. LUCY, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, Assrenron TO THE srnenn. MANUFAC- runiivo COMPANY,YA oonrona'rron or NEW. JERSEY. i

a. a, v j i a worm I-IOLDER;FOR snwrive MACHINES.

Application filed October 13,1917. Serial no. 197,175.

T alt whomit may concern." y Be it known that I, CALVIN I'l. LUCY, a citizen of the United States residing at Balti more, in the State of aryland, have invented certain new' and useful Improvements in Work ll-Iolders for SewingfMa chines, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had'therein to the accompanying drawings. I a

This invention relatesto sewing machines, more particularly of the type adapted to lay [groups or; tacking stitches in predetermined.

order or arrangement to form an ornamental design, and has forqan object to provide a work-holder for use with such machines, whereby the work may be turned about a given center between stitching cycles to re locatethe worlrrelativelyto the stitch-torming mechanism for reception oit' subsequent groups of stitches displaced angularly about said center from previously: formed groups.

More specifically the invention has for an object to provide a special work-holder for ferrrleaf tacking machines, whereby the work may be so rotated and the successively formed groups of stitches or fern-leaf tacks so laid as to produce ornamental starshaped figures having any desired number of points. i u I, y e

The invention is preferably embodied in a machine of the well known Singer button sewer type disclosed for example in the patent to J. J. Sullivan, BIO/777,564, and comprising a reciprocating needle operating in "conjunction with the work-holder to which predeterminedlateral jogging move Inents are imparted by means of a suitable pattern-cam. The machine is provided with the usual stop-motion device and tripping means therefor arrangedto operate the stop-motion device to arrest the stitch-tormingmechanism at the end .oteach stitching cycle, that is, at the completion of each group of tacking "stitches, so as to permit the work to be relocatedrelatively to the stitch-forming mechanism for reception of and the upper or which is journaleol to turn in the overhanging or presser member of thework-holder. The opposed faces ofthe clamping rings are serrated or formedlwith work-gripping teeth and manually con- I trolled means are provided for turning the upper ringto the desired extent in its sup port while the work is securely gripped; the

lower ring being free to turn with the work, In the presentmachine the work-holder controlling cams are cut so as to shift the workholder for reception of stitches grouped to produce the wellknown fern-leaf shaped ornament and by; means of the rotatable work-l'iolder the work may be accurately turnedfpne-fifth of a revolution, say, be-i tween each stitching operation, thus effect- 'ing production ofaafive pointed star; the

points'of the fern-leaf ornaments radiating fromacommon center and thebase portions being superimposed more or less to fully conceal the body-fabric and add to the thicknessand ornamentalappearance of the center of the composite ornament. y

In the. accompanying drawings, 1 is a sideelevationfofa machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 isia perspective View of the work-holder. 3 is a perspective view showing the well known cam-controlled connection for imparting longitudinal com ponents of motion to the workholder. Fig 4: is a cross-section of the work-holder; Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detailed perspective views of parts of the work-holder. Fig. 8 illustrates a five pointed star as produced by thepres- .entmachine; one of the points ofthe'star being shown incomplete to indicate the directionin which the stitching progresses. Fig. 9 illustrates the so-called fern-leaf tackor group of stitchesproduced during one stitching cycle by the particular machine in which the invention is at present embodied." v y i e u The particularymachine in which the invention'is shown as embodied is constructed substantially in accordance with thedisclosure in thesaid Sullivan patent or in the patent to Barron, No. 1,093,241 and comprises the bed 1, standard 2 and bracketarmBterminating in a head 4. in which is journaled the reciprocating needle-bar 5 carrying the eye-pointed needle 6 cooperating preferably with the usual oscillating shuttle (not shown). The needle-bar is reciprocated by means of the usual crank and link con nection with the rotary main-shaft T having usual rocklever fulc-rumed in a rigid bracket pattern-wheel 18.

1 4. The upperari'n 15 of the rock-lever carries a cainlfonewr or roller-stud 16 which enters the cam -groove 17 of the patternwheel 1av I j The slide-barll is'vibrated laterally about the post 12 as a fulcrum by means ofthe. usual connections including the slide-plate 19 which is shifted laterally by means of the bellcrank-lever 20 receiving motion from the link 21 and rock-lever 22, the upper end of which carries a earn-follower 23 entering the cam-groove 24in the outeriace of the It will be readily understood thatthe camgrooves l7 and 24 in the pattern-wheel may be designed to shift the work-holder in any directionand to any desired extent twithin. limits) between penetrations of the needle 6, so that the stitches may be laid in any desired order or arrangement. In the present instance these cam-grooves are shaped to jog the work-holder to secure an arrangement or grouping of stitches simulating a fern-leaf, as shownin Fig. 9. I

,The machine is preferably equipped with the usual stop-mechanism including thestopmotion lever 25 -which is held in running position by the latch- 26 adapted to be tripped by the tripping point 27 carried by the ca1nwheel 18, as more fully described in said Barron patent. 7'

The present work-holder, in its preferred embodiment, comprises a lower work-support '61- work-supporting ring 28 having a fiat under rsurface 29 adapted to rest upon and slide freely over the upper surface of the usual throat-plate 30 in which is formed a needle-hole 80%. Thering 28 is journaled to turn in a guide-ring 31 formed with a shank 32 bolted to the -torward end of the slide-bar 11 and is confined against upward displacement relatively to said guide-ring by'means of the inwardly directed annular flange 33 formed on said guide-ring and overlappingthe lower outwardly directed annular flange 34 formed upon the work supporting ring 28. The ring 28 is beveled at 35 to form aconical work-supporting survface. which is provided with upwardly directed worlegripping serrations or teeth, as illustrated. Cooperating with the worksupporting ring 28 is a presser or Workclamping ring 36 having a serrated conical work-gripping surface 37 registering with the conical work-supporting surface 35. The presser-ring 36 is formed with a thickened hub 38 and with a thin outwardly projecting annular flange 39 having a thickened base-portion 40 upon which rests the ratchetring 41 having at its outer periphery ratchet-teeth 42 and notched at 4-3 to embrace a key 44 fixed to the hub of the presser-ring 36. Fulcrumed in the bearing afforded by the opposed faces of the flange 39 and ratchet-ring 41 is the ring-shaped inner end of the hand-lever 45 the outer end of which is formed with an rip-turned lip 46 affording a handle or linger-piece. The hand-lever carries a pawl 47 which is pressed against the ratchet-teeth 42 by means of the spring 48.

Screwed to the upwardly extending end of the hub 88 or the pressei' ring 36 is the fiat retaining ring 49 between which and the ratchet-ring 41 a space is afforded to receive the presser-support or supporting ring 50 having diametrically opposed upturned ears 51 apertured to loosely embrace the'pivotal screws 52 which are threaded into the forwardly extended lower extremities of the presser-bars 53 mounted side-byside for vertical sliding movements in the head 54 of the clamp bracket-arm 55 which is secured to the slide-bar 11. Bearing downwardly upon the notched upper ends of the presser-bars 53 are the s 'irings 54 whose rearwardly disposed extremities rest upon the support 56 carried by the clamp bracket-arm 55 and the pressure of which may be adjusted by means of suitable adj usting screws, one of which is shown at 5?.

ln the present instance one face of the retaining ring 49 is provided with five uniformly spaced radial grooves 58 while the opposite face is provided with three radial grooves 58 spaced 120 from one another. The down-turncd forward extremity of the spring 59 secured to one of the presser-bars by a screw 59 is adapted to bear upon the exposed surface of the ring 49 and snap into a radial groove to yieldi ngly retain the presser-ring 36 in the desired predetermined position to which it is shifted by manipulation of the hand-lever 45. \Vhon it is desired to stitch a live pointed star for example, the retaining-ring 49 is secured to the hub 38 with the five grooves 58 uppermost. hen it is desired to stitch a three pointed star, the ring 49 is reversed so as to expose the three grooves 58 to the detaining action or the spring 59. Obviously additional rings 49 having variously spaced grooves may be provided "for use in lion 0] the particular retaining ring shown,

in order that the presser-ring may be lifted to release the work the presser-bars 53 are provided with forwardly projecting lateral pins 60 which overhang the lateral lib clamp-lifting bar 61 secured to the lower end of the vertical slide-bar 62 journaled in the heads and at its upper end connected to the usual treadle-controlled clamp lifting lever 63. i

It is desirable to providethe machine with means for stripping the work from the prevents turning movements of the latter. The expansion spring 69 surrounding the reduced upper end portion of the shank depresses the stripper ring. 64: during the first part of the up-stroke of the'needle to hold the fabric against thethroat plate so that the needlewill be certain to throw out its loop. 1 i 1 in the operation of the machinethe presser-ring 36 islifted by manipulation of the lever 63-and the work is placed in a desired position over the work-supporting ring28. Upon lowering the pressei ring' the work willbesecurely gripped between the coacting conical grippingsurfaces 37 and 35; the independently yielding "presser-bars 53 and tree'pivotal connections 52 permittingthe presser-ringto tilt slightly in any direction in adjusting itself to possible inequalities in the thickness of the work at hand.

With the work firmly clamped in place the stitclri'orming mechanism is caused to run through the usualstitching cycle to form a group of tacking stitches such as the starpoint shown in Fig. 9, and come to a stop. It will be seen that each group of stitches forming an elementary figure is symmetrically laid along a line radiating from the center otthe work-holder. The operator, without releasing the work, moves the handle 45 to rotate thepresser-ring the desired number of degreesor until the spring 59 snaps into the succeeding radial groove in the'retaining ring 49, thereby bringing another portion of the work into the. line of stitching whereupon the machine is started and, in the present instance, another point ofthe star is made. The work is thus alternately shifted and stitched until the star is completed, as will be readily understood.

The machine is thus capable of stitching a composite figure made up of a series of elementary figures repeated at intervals spaced angularly about a given center. The workholder may obviously be turned any desired number of degrees between stitching operations; the; grooves 58 or 58 merely aiding in positioning the work-holder to secure the production. of a composite figure comprising accurately spacedlelementary figures.

While the present improvement is shown ask-Embodied in "a machine of the jogging work-clamp type it is evidently adapted for use in tacking or embroidering machines of other types and is susceptible of material modification in the construction and arrangement of its parts within the scope of the invention. 7

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is 1. In a sewing machine, in combination stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocating needle, a work-holder, means for producing automatically variable relative bodily lateral movement having two com- 1 ponents between said stitch-forming mecha-- nism and Work-holder to produce a stitch covered elementary figure, and means for imparting movements ofrotation to said work holder between elementary figure stitcliing operations.

n a sewing machine, in combination, 1.

stitch-forming mechanism, a Work holder,

means for producing relative lateral movement between said stitch-forming mechanism and the work-holder to effect the stitching of a single covered star-point, means for stopping the stitch-forming mechanism at the close of the operation and means for relatively rotating said work-holder and stitch-forming mechanism about a given centerwhile such stitch-forming mechanism is ineffective to accurately relocate the work relatively to said center for reception of subsequent starpoints. i

3. In a sewing machine, in combination, stitch-formin mechanism including a reciprocating need e, a rotary work-holder, means tor securing said work-holder against rotation in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions during a stitching operation, means for producing relative lateral movement between said stitch forming mechanism and Work-holder in the produc-- tion ofan elementary figure, and means for imparting movements of rotation to said work holder between elementary figure stitching operations.

4.111 a sewing machine, in combination, stitch forming mechanism including a reciprocating needle, a work-holder. means for producing automatically variable relative bodily lateral movement having components in transverse directions between said stitch forming mechanism and work-holder in the production of an. elementary stitch. covered figure, and manually operated means for impartingmovements of rotation to said workholder between elementary figure stitching operations.

5.'In a sewing machine, in combination,

stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocatin'g needle, a workbolder movable in directions transverse to each other and including a work-support and a rotatably mounted presser-member for clamping the workagainst saidwork-support, means for producing predetermined relative lateral movements between said stitch forming mechanism and the work-holder in the pro duction of an elementary figure, means occupying a normally fixed relation to said work-holder during the action of the stitchi'i'orming mechanism for imparting the movement of rotation to said work-holder while the stitch-forming mechanism is inactive, and means for determining stopping places inthe rotary movement of the work-holder.

6. .In a sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism including a recip roeating. needle, a stop-motion device, a work-holder including a workg ;ripping ele ment adapted to present the work to said. needle substantiallyin'a plane, means for imparting components of motion to said work-holder in mutually transverse directions laterally of said needle to produce a desired. elementary stitchedfigure, and manually operated. means 'Jiorturning said work gripping element in a plane sul stantially parallel to the plane'otthe work while the stitch-forming mechanism is inactive.

7. A work-holder .tor sewing machines comprising, in combination, a work-support, a resser-support, a presser-member mounted in said presser-support to turn in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the work, and a universal yielding connection between said supports, whereby said pressermember may tilt slightly in any direction in adapting itself to inequalities in the works thickness.

8. A work-holder for sewing machines comprising, in combination, a work-support. a presser-support, a presser-m ember mounted in said presser-support to turn in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the work, a universal yielding connection between said supports, whereby said presser-member may tilt slightly in any direction in adapting itself to inequalities in the works thickness, and means for lifting said presser-member to release the work.

9. A work-holder for sewing machines comprising, a work-support, a plurality of independently spring-pressed presser-bars, a presser-ring support, a presser-ring rotatably mounted in said support, and pivotal connections between said support and said Presser-bars, said pivotal connections being arranged substantially diametrically of said presser-ring.

10. A work-holder for sewing machines comprising, a throat-plate, a work-support ing ring having a flat under-surface adaptedto slide upon said throat-plate, a guidering in which said work supporting ring is mounted to turn, a presser-ring adapted to clamp the work against said work-supporting ring, and manually controlled means for turning one of said rings.

11. A work-holder for sewing machines comprising complementary work-gripping rings, means for imparting movement to the "work-holder in transverse directions, means for imparting a succession of partial rotations to said rings, and reversible means for variably determining the extent of such partial rotation.

12. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism, a work-holder, automatic means for producing relative stitch-positioning movements between the stitch-forming mechanism and the work-holder to produce an elementary stitch covered figure, an auto matic stop-motion device for arresting the stitch-forming mechanism at the completion of each elementary stitch covered figure, and means for producing relative turning movements between the work and stitch-forming mechanism while the latter is at rest, where by a series of such figures may be symmetrically laid about a given point.

13. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism, a work-holder, means for laying stitches on the work transversely to and at each side of a line radiating from the center of the work-holder to form a stitch-covered figure, and means for relatively shifting the work and stitcluforming mechanism either a predetermined or an arbitrary amount and means whereby the work may be held in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions.

14. In a sewing machine, a stitcluiorming mechanism and a work-holder having a plurality of predetermined relative movements, yielding means for securing the parts against one of said movements while others are in progress, means for producing the latter movements, and means for producing said first movement at will against the opposition of said yielding means.

15.. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism, a work-holder, means for producing a series of stitch covered star points in separate automatically controlled operations, means whereby the work-holder may be moved between operations. and means for accurately gaging the extent of such movements.

16. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism, a work-holder, means for producing in separate automatically controlled operations a series of radially extending stitch covered figures at the center of the work-holder. means whereby the workholder may be rotated between operations, and means for accurately gaging the extent of such rotation.

17. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism, a work-holder, automatic means acting independently of the work for relatively moving the stitch-forming mechanism and the work-holder to produce an elementary stitch-covered figure, and means for producing relative shifting movements between the work and the stitch-forming ered figure, and separate means for producing relative movement between the work- 10 holder and stitch-forming mechanism at the completion of each elementary figure, whereby a series of such figures may be laid about a given point.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my 15 name to thisspecification.

CALVIN n. LUCY. 

